By Madelyn Moore
Introduction to "Unsung Heroes"
Heroes are all-encompassing. They are in the news, on your television screen and maybe even in your own home sharing a bathroom with you. But what truly is a hero?
The word is defined by the Merriam Webster dictionary to be “one who shows great courage” or “a person admired for achievements and noble qualities”. Yet often the greatest heroes are not as well admired as they ought to be. Sometimes they are not acknowledged in the slightest.
Within this column we will highlight a few of the many heroes of our local community. Through doing this we may each find our own definition of the word “hero”, and even consider how we can be more hero-like in our daily lives.
Each article will place emphasis upon a person within our community that has striven to help or encourage others in the absence of desire for notice or self-serving motives. It will include a breakdown of their job or activity that they undertake to help others, why they do it and how they hope to achieve continuing it in the future. In addition, there will be information allowing readers to better understand or get to know the local hero highlighted.
These average people among you and I, do not have ordinary disposition. Yet we often fail to recognize their good deeds and caring hearts. Through the column “Unsung heroes”, I hope to enlighten society to the concept of good people being all around us. Look closely, and you may find how unchallenging it is to discern one.
Matt Gorman Ensures BSES Is Safe & In Top Shape
When people hear “custodian” they do not consider “hero” to have a connection. But Matt Gorman is walking evidence of the link between the two.
Gorman has worked in the custodial and maintenance department for seven and a half years. He has been the Facility Manager at Bradie Shrum Elementary School for six and half of those years.
“This is not the job I always wanted, but it has turned out to be a very rewarding career,” Gorman said.
His first passion was being a career firefighter, which he enjoyed for 12 years.
“When that job was suddenly not an option due to a critical injury that occurred in the line of duty, I needed to regroup and try new jobs,” Gorman said. “I had to explore different jobs to discover a job that would allow me to continue to serve my community.”
Gorman’s job now entails making sure the school is safe and clean. This encompasses an abundance of different responsibilities such as: completing preventive maintenance on equipment, scheduling the nine other custodians and their duties, maintaining a clean environment and performing repairs on electrical and plumbing equipment.
“I’ve also had to do a lot of oddball tasks that you might not think of when you consider my job,” Gorman said. “I’ve fixed many shoes and pairs of eyeglasses, gotten knots out of shoelaces, braided hair, retrieved random objects and toys from the roof and other odd places and gotten bats out of the hallways and classrooms.”
Some of the safety aspects of his job include monthly fire drills, quarterly tornado drills and other safety drills as needed. He also offers CPR certification to all faculty and staff of Salem Community Schools.
“I am currently a school safety specialist and with the training I have received, I am able to work with the administrative team and our superintendent to ensure that we are doing things the correct way when performing all safety drills and evacuations,” Gorman said.
He is registered for advanced training in April of this year to gain more knowledge on safety standards. Since they now have 3 safe rooms in the school corporation, he would like to see each one utilized to ensure not only the safety of the students and staff, but also the community when school is not in session.
Gorman has begun compiling a list of items that will improve the school for the next several years.
“Some of these items include: new LED lighting in the school and the sidewalks surrounding the school, a cafeteria makeover, and a gym makeover,” Gorman said. “Safety is always the number one concern and anything related to this is addressed and resolved quickly.”
Gorman hopes to be a positive role model for the kids at the school. He is encouraging to all students when he sees them, and promotes kindness and understanding.
“I try to give attention to all students,” Gorman said. “I get at least a hundred high fives a day when we pass in the hallways! It is great to see students outside of school at stores and have them recognize me.”
Parents will sometimes give him a strange look, but after they find out how their kids know Gorman from school, it makes the encounter understandable.
“My favorite part of the job is getting to see and interact with over 800 students each day,” Gorman said.
Gorman also appreciates his custodial team that ensures everything is clean and in order each day.
“Having a custodial team that takes pride in themselves and the school is what separates us from being good to being great at what we do,” Gorman said. “I will continue to develop the team as people retire, and I hope to see the school in great shape for the rest of my career and for when the next facility manager takes over.”
Gorman explained that his job contains so many facets that he cannot truly name all that it concerns. He wants people to understand that being a custodian is much more than just cleaning up messes and rooms.
“Being a custodian is a tough job at times but is very rewarding if you are in it for the right reasons,” Gorman said. “As a manager of this facility, I try to lead by example and always seek and include ideas that will make us better. I am only as good as the other custodians that fall under my leadership. They prove to me time and time again that when we all work together, we can accomplish so much more.”
Although Gorman enjoys his job, he does have a least favorite part of his career: plumbing.
“Since the majority of our school building is over 60 years old, that means the plumbing is too,” Gorman said. “Every time a plumbing situation arises, it is usually not a simple task.”
This is a priority item on his list of things to replace as he continues to move forward with future projects.
Gorman has numerous goals for the future in hopes of leaving the school better than he found it when he retires in a few years.
Gorman is also looking for the conservation of resources, which entails lowering energy costs by constantly trying to update lighting, plumbing and HVAC. This is a continuing goal of mine but funding these projects takes time and is challenging.
His biggest goal is two new playgrounds for all students.
“I’m really excited about this project and can’t wait to see it through,” Gorman said. “The current playgrounds have been used for decades and have served their purpose, but it’s time for new things and inclusivity for all students and the community.”